Natural disasters were a constant threat to the people of ancient India. Here are a few of the internal threats that ancient india faced.
Floods
à A major natural disaster that threatened Indus people . (Flooding of Indus River)
à The floods destroy homes and crops , and killed many humans and animals.
à Indus Valley Cities had to be rebuilt several times .
Cause : The floods.
à Through archaeological evidence, Mohenjo-daro was rebuilt six times and Harappa , five times.
àThe Indus valley Civilisation was probably wiped out by a series of great floods c. 1500 BCE.
Famines
à Definition : A period of severe food shortage .
à Often occurs after a drought.
Effects of drought : Crops die , resulting in food shortage .
à Can also be caused by a flood . ( Crops and plants are washed away by the waters.)
à Kautilya wrote a textbook on government , the Arthashastra . He wrote that Indian kings should help their people during a famine. The kings were expected to distribute food stored in the government’s grain stores to the people.
*Drought : A period of little or no rain.
* Kautilya : the prime minister of Chandragupta Maurya , the first emperor of the Mauryan dynasty (c. 322-185BCE)
posted by Maryam Nolza (= on 00:38
